I'm Dr. Nehr, and I'm thrilled to be collaborating with you this year.
Just to share a little about me...I've been a teacher for almost 30 years. I've taught in numerous states (NC, SC, TX, UT, AZ, CA, LA) and even overseas in England. I've covered so many topics you might not actually believe it, but it's true: Drama, Journalism every English course from grades 6-12, Crime Fiction, Gothic Literature and more.
I am practically fused to my computer so don't be surprised is you get a few lightning fast responses when you send me messages or have work graded pretty quickly. Just fyi, if you sent me a note or work and don't get a response within 24 hours, it means something has happened to your note (lost in cyber-space), and you should resend it.
In addition to teaching, I love traveling. At last count, I've been to somewhere between 20-30 countries. If you want to know which countries this list entails, you're going to have to send me a note. ;-)
Please, never hesitate to reach out to me at any point during our time together. I'm here to help you succeed in this course (even if you think English isn't your thing), but I can't see any looks of confusion through the screen. You have to be proactive and let me know when I can help...but also share your successes as well.
Throughout the study of content in English 4A and 4B, students will explore diverse texts that span the history of very early literature to modern British literature, from the early epic poem and the epic hero’s quest to the modern British novel. Throughout the course, students will develop skills in literary analysis, identifying key literary elements, decoding vocabulary, and analyzing for author intent. In addition, students will write for a range of purposes and using a range of styles, depending on target audience. Students will develop and use research skills, from generating research questions to using databases to writing and revising essays. Students will also learn and apply proper citation for sources used in MLA format. From literary analysis to persuasive writing, students will exercise their skills regarding a broad range of topics and themes.
Epic Poetry & the Epic Hero
Narrative Writing
Middle Ages through the Renaissance
Life in the Renaissance (Elizabethan England)
The Tragedy of Hamlet
Research-Based Informative Writing
Romanticism in England
The Gothic Novel: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Nineteenth-Century England & The Importance of Being Earnest
Argumentative Writing about an Ethical Issue
The First Half of the Twentieth Century
Project: Creating a Museum Exhibit
Contemporary Voices
Success and Planning for the Future
Course Weights
Doing well in this course means completing all assignments to learn content for the quizzes and tests. The better you do on all of your assignments, the better your grade will be! Don’t skip any assignments in lessons!! Though it seems like a speedy way to get through the course, students who have done this tend to struggle with Tests and Quizzes—that’s 50% of their grade injured by not learning content correctly! Take your time and learn the content.
CalPac's Grading Scale
CalPac's Grading Scale works within a system that applies +/- grades across all letter grades. In light of this, CalPac course grades are never rounded up.
If you would like to improve your grade to reach the next letter grade or grade bandwidth on the Grading Scale, I am happy to work with you to supply additional and alternative assignments that you may complete to demonstrate proficiency where your grade may indicate otherwise.
Your grade is always in your hands, and I am happy to offer opportunities that allow you a chance to show what you know better than your scores in Edgenuity may reveal.
I am here for you and want you to succeed in this course! I welcome you to contact me with any questions you have as your work through our course or to ask for help when you need it. Please take note of my contact information and office hours below. I'm looking forward to working with you!
Your Assignment
In your submission box in Edgenuity, write a three sentences summarizing what kind of content is covered in English 4 and what you'll need to do or consider to be successful in the course. If you have any questions for Dr. Nehr, this is also a great place to ask!